Category: HAIR CARE

When most people think about the new year, they probably think “new year, new me” but I think “new year, new, products!” I finished a couple of favorites in 2014, and I can’t wait to either make repurchases, or move on to other products. Here’s what I finished in 2014.

L – R:

Lindi Face Serum

Dr. Brandt Pores No More

Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel

Dr. Brandt Face Cream

Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate

Biodara Face Serum and Créme De Clay Purifying Mask

Lindi Face Serum: I love this product! It was the first product I wrote about on I Sort of Beauty. The serum is super soothing and silky soft. I would definitely repurchase this.

Dr. Brandt Pores No More: Hands down, one of the best blackhead extractor masks I have ever used. I love that the mask dries into a darker blue color when it’s done and ready to be removed. I need to get this again for 2015!

Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel: 2014 was all about natural products for me. I love that this peel is made of organic, fruit-derived hydroxy acids, raw sugar cane, and antioxidant-rich vitamins—A, C, and E. Will definitely purchase the full size product.

Dr. Brandt Face Cream: Eh. I liked it, but didn’t love using it. I preferred using other moisturizers, so will not be seeing this product in 2015.

Amika: Perk Up Dry Shampoo:This was my first love (for dry shampoo, that is). I have never used dry shampoo before. I always thought that if I washed my hair every other day or every 2-3 days, I didn’t need dry shampoo. But after using Amika, I realized that there are so many benefits to using dry shampoo. I use it the day after I shower to keep my hair nice and voluminous.

Hello Body Cream:I didn’t love this product, but I didn’t hate it either. It smelled delicious and went on smoothly, but I don’t think it’s hydrating enough. Will not see this product in 2015.

MAKE Dual Phase Eye Makeup Remover: I only found one makeup remover that I loved in 2014, and this product is not it. The remover is not tough enough for eye makeup removal. I won’t be seeing this product in 2015 either.

I have never really incorporated oil into my skincare regimen so I was a bit skeptical to try out Valentia Organic Rosehip Oil for the first time. The serum is a blend of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and fatty acids. Valentia claims that the oil,

“will restore your skin’s natural balance so as to improve its overall look and texture. Giving you that healthy, glowing and fresh-looking skin you can flaunt.”

This is definitely a product that I swear by! I have been using it for about a month now and my skin is feeling and looking much smoother and softer. I love putting this on right after the shower to lock in all the moisture and keep my face glowing.

At first, I was afraid that it would make my skin oily (I have normal skin) or that I would just look greasy. However, I found that it absorbs really well into my skin and leaves it looking radiant. Right now, my skin is blemish-free so I enjoy using this product as a part of my daily regimen to keep my skin looking healthy. I do recommend that if you have issues with acne, to go light on the product. Vitamin C can cause breakouts because it works to draw toxins from your skin. After repeated use, it is supposed to make the blemishes disappear, but I wouldn’t use too much of it at first, just to be safe. I also love that the product can be dispensed with a dropper instead of a pump or a jar. The serum is super easy to work with and the dropper makes it mess-free.

Bonus? It can also be used on hair and nails!

If your face gets a bit dry in the winter time, or you’re looking for a product to keep your face hydrated at night, and glowing during the day, I recommend giving this bad boy a try. Retails for $13.99 on Amazon.

VALENTIA WAS PROVIDED TO ISORTOFBEAUTY FOR REVIEW. THE PRODUCT DOES NOT INFLUENCE THE CONTENT OF THIS POST. ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED BELONG TO ISORTOFBEAUTY.

Last Birchbox for 2014! I’ve been a Birchbox subscriber since July and enjoy the perks of being a Birchblogger. Every month I get to sample 5-6 different products for $10 that I’ve never tried before. It’s a great way to switch up my beauty routine without having to break the bank. Here’s what I got in my box this month.

This was my sample choice this month, and I’m disappointed at how tiny the sample size is. It’s a mix between a gloss and a stain, which is something I’ve never tried before. I love the color and am surprised at the moisturizing and staying power. Wish the sample was a bit bigger.

REVIEW: Overall, I am pretty happy with my box. I paid about $10 for the box and received $15 worth of products. Birchbox partnered with GAP this month, so they included a $10 giftcard in my box, making my box worth $25. I will also earn $6 in points to use in the Birchbox shop since I will review each product ($1 back per product review). It’s a great deal and I’m totally stoked to try out my samples.

Do you subscribe to Birchbox? What did you think about your box this month?

It’s been easier than I thought. Not wearing makeup has actually made my mornings better. I thought I would have a difficult time adjusting but it worked quite naturally. I think it has something to do with the fact that I was never really into makeup until my second year of college. In fact, I think that’s when I started to wear any makeup – which is of course an overstatement because it was really just mascara and lip balm. I guess you could say that I was a late bloomer.

Here’s my NO MAKEUP: DAY 7 PHOTO. My face is a bit swollen because I had my wisdom tooth taken out yesterday. It was so hard to smile! 🙁

My skin has changed a bit since this “No Makeup Challenge” started. I noticed that my skin looks clearer and healthier even without makeup to cover up some of my blemishes. I still have tired-looking eyes in the morning and am trying out some products to brighten and wake-up my eyes. I found that cold water and massaging all around my eyes have helped significantly.

Here are some of the products I am using to help me get through this challenge:

It’s been easy to not have to put on makeup in the morning, but there are days when I feel so naked without it on. My boyfriend, who also started this challenge, has been super supportive and encouraging. Some days can be challenging, but I have learned that confidence is key. We don’t need makeup to be beautiful.

I’ve always dreaded curling my hair. Don’t get me wrong, I love both wavy and curly hair, but the process is just horrendously daunting. The physical curling motion makes my arms go weak since I have a lot of hair. Needless to say, I get pretty stressed out when I want to curl my hair. I received a little help this week from KISS InstaWave Automatic Curler. That’s right. Automatic. It’s basically the holy grail of all hair curlers out there.

The first thing I noticed was how big the packaging and product was. I thought I would have a difficult time using the InstaWave because of it’s size. However, the product is very lightweight, and surprisingly easy to use.

There are two heating settings, low and high. The maximum temperature it can get to is 420°F. The InstaWave also comes with two curling direction settings, left and right. It claims that you “do not need to be a pro to create beautiful, lasting curls.”

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Make sure you’re working with small sections of your hair. Preferably about 1-1.5 inches of hair.

2. Place the middle of the lock of hair in the slot on the wand and press the side button in the direction you want your curls to form. The wand will curl all of your hair, and the little spikes will keep it in place.

3. Hold the curl on the wand for 5-10 seconds for beachy waves. Hold longer for tighter curls.

4. Pull down to release the curl. It will automatically shut off after 90 minutes… a setting that should be placed in all appliances in my opinion.

*IF YOUR HAIR GETS CAUGHT AND TANGLED, SPIN IN THE OTHER DIRECTION*

Here’s a video of the InstaWave in action. My boyfriend even gets so excited he squeals “WEEEE!” at the end. See it here: